S8T8 


THS 


DEFEBCE  OF   STOBIEGTOH 

(COKH.) 

AGAIEST  A.  BEITISH  SQDADROB 
AUG.  9th  TO  l£tb  1814. 


This   Book   is   the   Property 
of 

J.   H.   WEEKS,  Jr., 
Stonington,  Conn. 

Return    to    owner    as   soon 
as  read. 


JAMES  HAMMOND  TRUMBULL,   WHO  WAS 
AN  .UJTilOKlTY  IX  INDIAN  LANGUAGES. 


JAMES  H.  TRUMBULL. 

Born  at  Stonington,  Conn,  Dec  20,  1821.    Died 
at  Hartford,   Conn,   Aug  5,    1897. 


Mr  Trumbull  came  of  old  English 
stock,  his  ancestors  John  and  Elizabeth 
Trumbull  having  come  to  this  country 
from  Northumberland  in  1636. 

He  entered  Yale  college  at  17,  but  was 
taken  ill  and  obliged  to  discontinue 
his  course.  A  few  years  later,  upon  his 
recovery  to  health,  he  assisted  in  pre- 
paring the  catalogs  of  mammalia,  rep- 
tiles, fishes  and  shells  of  Connecticut. 
This  called  attention  to  his  knowledge 
and  his  personality  made  him  popular. 

He  went  to  Hartford  to  reside  in  1847 
and  was  soon  made  assistant  secretary 
of  state,  and  not  long  after  full  secre- 
tary. He  held  this  distinguished  posl- 
lion  all  through  the  civil  war. 

Mr  Trumbull  was  deeply  interested  in 
all  matters  pertaining  to  history,  and 
served  the  historical  society  as  presi- 
dent for  24  years.  In  connection  with 
his  historic  research  he  became  an 
authority  on  the  Indians  and  their  lan- 
guages. He  was  lecturer  at  Yale  upon 
the  subject  of  Indian  languages. 

One  o<f  James  Trumbull's  most  valu- 
able works  was  a  dictionary  and  vocab- 
ulary for  Eliot's  Indian  Bible.  No  other 
white  man  could  read  this.  He  was 
also  an  authority  on  Indian  dialects. 

Mr  Trumbull  did  a  great  deal  to  open 
the  early  history  of  New  England.  He 
wrote  for  several  magazines,  arid  also 
wrote  some  important  books.  One  of 
the  latter  was  on  the  Indian  geo- 
graphical names,  and  another  was  on 
the  'best  way  to  study  the  Indian 
language.  A  work  that  attracted  much 
Attention  was  his  notes  on  40  Algonkin 
versions  of  the  Lord's  Prayer. 

Yale  gave  him  an.  honorary  degree-of 
master  of  arts  in  1850,  and  Harvard 
and  Yale  both  gave  him  the  degree  of 
doctor  of  laws.  He  was  made  president 
of  many  learned  societies  and  enjoyed 
honors  of  every  sort. 

Dr  Trumbull  married  a  Miss  Sarah 
A.  FYanklin,  and  their  daughter,  Anne 
Eliot,  named  for  John  Eliot  of  beloved 
memory,  became  the  writer  of  stories  of 
a  high  order. 


This  c.py  (I».ll)  »f  "Defence  «f  St.ningt.n" 
by  James  Hammond  Trumbull  was  presented  by  the 
autb«r£H.a.  J.  R.  Hawley  .f  C.an.  When  hi 
effects  were  s«li  1»  W&shxngtta  B.  C.  it  *as 
purchased  by  Ethan  Wilc»i  of  Westerly  and  pre- 
sented tt  J.  H.  Weeks  »f  St«ningt«n  February 
28,  1915. 


tary.    He   held    this    distinguished    posi- 
tion all   through  the  civil  war. 

Mr  Trumbull  was  deeply  interested  in 
all  matters  pertaining  to  history,  and 
served  the  historical  society  as  presi- 
dent for  24  years.  In  connection  with 
his  historic  research  he  became  an 
authority  on  the  Indians  and  their  lan- 
guages. 'He  was  lecturer  at  Yale  upon 
The  subject  of  Indian  languages. 

One  of  James  Trumbull's  most  valu- 
able works  was  a  dictionary  and  vocab- 
ulary for  Eliot's  Indian  Bible.  No  other 
white  man  could  read  this.  He  was 
also  an  authority  on  Indian  dialects. 

Mr  Trumbull  did  a  great  deal  to  open 
the  early  history  of  New  England.  He 
wrote  for  several  magazines,  arid  also 
wrote  some  important  books.  One  of 
the  latter  was  on  the  Indian  geo- 
graphical names,  and  another  was  on 
the  best  way  to  study  the  Indian 
language.  A  work  that  attracted  much 
attention  was  his  notes  on  40  Algonkin 
versions  of  the  L,ord's  Prayer. 

Yale-  gave  him  an  honorary  degree*of 
master  of  arts  in  1850,  and  Harvard 
and  Yale  both  gave  him  the  degree  of 
doctor  of  laws.  He  was  made  president 
of  many  learned  societies  and  en.ioyefl 
honors  of  every  sort. 

Dr  Trumbull  married  a  Miss  Sarah 
A.  Krariklin,  and  their  daughter,  Anne 
Elliot,  named  for  John  Eliot  of  beloved 
memory,  IK  -came  the  writer  of  stories  of 
high  order. 


DEFENCE 


OF 


STONINGTON 


H- 


THE 


Befence  of  |3>tomngton 


(CONNECTICUT) 


AGAINST  A  BRITISH  SQUADRON, 


AUGUST    QTH   TO   1 2TH,     1814. 


"  Vixere  fortes  ante  Agamemnona." 


HARTFORD: 
1864. 


ONE  HUNDRED  AND  TWENTY-FIVE  COPIES  PRINTED. 
FOR  PRIVATE  DISTRIBUTION. 


CONTENTS. 


INTRODUCTORY  NOTE,       ....          ...        page  v 

RECORD  OF  THE  EXTRAORDINARY  ATTACK  ON  STONINGTON,  .          .  9 

NAMES  OF  VOLUNTEERS,  FROM  THE  CONNECTICUT  GAZETTE,     .          .  20 

MUSTER-ROLL  OF  CAPT.  WM.  POTTER'S  COMPANY,     .         .         .  22 

ACCOUNT  OF  THE  ATTACK,  PUBLISHED  BY  THE  BOROUGH  AUTHORITIES,  24 

LETTER  FROM  CAPT.  AMOS  PALMER  TO  THE  SECRETARY  OF  WAR,  33 

EXTRACT  FROM  GEN.  ROOT'S  SPEECH  IN  CONGRESS,  1817,    .          .  37 

THE  BATTLE  OF  STONINGTON,  BY  PHILIP  FRENEAU,         .         .         .  38 

CELEBRATIONS  OF  THE  ANNIVERSARY,        .         .          .         .          .  42 

NOTES, 47 


M181842 


INTRODUCTORY  NOTE. 


HE  repulfe  of  a  Britifh  fquadron,  at  Ston- 
ington,  by  a  few  undifciplined  volunteers, 
having  only  two  effective  guns,  imperfectly 
protected  by  a  low  earth-work, — and  this  repulfe 
accomplished  without  the  lofs  of  a  fingle  life, — was 
not  the  leaft  glorious  achievement  of  the  War  of 
1812-14.  The  fiftieth  anniverfary  of  the  aftion  is 
clofe  at  hand.  Few  who  witnefled, — only  three  or  four 
who  participated  in  it,  furvive.  In  this  day  of  great 
events,  when  armies  and  navies  are  gathered  on  a  fcale 
of  magnitude  ofwhich  our  fathers  never  dreamed, — when 
from  the  heights  of  modern  fcience,  we  look  back  to 
the  guns  and  the  mips  of  war  of  the  laft  generation,  as 
to  the  toys  of  childhood, — when  we  are  in  the  very 
crifis  of  a  war  greater  in  itfelf,  and  waged  for  a  grander 
iflue,  than  the  world  has  hitherto  witnefled, — it  is  not 
furprifing  that  fo  few  find  leifure  or  inclination  to  look 


vi  Introductory  Note. 

from  the  prefent  to  the  paft,   or  to  recall  to  memory 

the  heroifm  of  their  fathers. 

Yet  there  are  fome  for  whom  the  ftory  of  The  Attack 
has  not  yet  loft  its  intereft.  They  learned  it  in  child- 
hood, from  the  lips  of  thofe  who  mared  the  perils  and 
the  glory  of  the  action.  They  grew  up,  amid  affocia- 
tions  which  could  hardly  fail  to  kindle  an  honeft  pride 
in  their  birth-place.  To  them,  the  "Tenth  of  Auguft" 
was  not  merely  a  fchool-holiday,  but  an  anniverfary 
entitled  to  equal  honors  with  Independence  Day  itfelf. 
They  have  helped  draw  the  "old  Eighteens,"  through 
th'e  ilreets  of  the  Borough,  in  folemn  proceflion  to  the 
(ite  of  the  demolifhed  Battery.  They  have  feen  the 
cherifhed  Flag — pierced  and  torn  in  a  dozen  places 
by  the  enemy';,  mot, — float  again  from  the  flag-ftafF, 
in  honor  of  the  day:  and  fome  of  them  were  ftanding 
by  when  "  Old  Hickory"  bared  his  head  to  falute  it, 
and  bade  the  citizens  preferve,  with  all  care,  this  pre- 
cious memorial  of  the  courage  and  patriotifm  of  their 
townfmen. 

It  is  for  thefe  —  the  companions  of  my  own  fchool- 
days, — and  in  honor  of  the  volunteers  of  1814,  that 
I  have  reproduced  fome  of  the  contemporary  accounts 
of  the  attack  and  defence  of  Stonington.  The  firft 
(pp.  9-20)  was  written  by  Col.  Samuel  Green,  the  pub- 


Introductory  Note.  vii 

lifher  of  the  Connecticut  Gazette,  who  vifited  the  Borough 
during  the  action,  and  obtained  his  knowledge  of  facts  of 
which  he  was  not  an  eye-witnefs,  from  the  actors  them- 
felves  and  from  official  fources.  This  account,  printed 
in  the  Gazette,  of  Augufl  lyth,  was  copied  into  many 
of  the  newfpapers  in  the  northern  ftates,  and  appeared 
in  Niles's  Weekly  Regifter,  November  5th,  with  fome 
additional  particulars. 

Following  this,  are  copies  of  the  mufter-roll  of  the 
Borough  company  of  militia ;  the  official  account 
furnifhed  for  publication  by  the  magiftrates,  warden 
and  burgefles  (pp.  24—32)  ;  and  a  letter  from  Capt. 
Amos  Palmer,  chairman  of  the  citizens'  committee  of 
defence,  to  Mr.  Crawford,  fecretary  of  war,  contain- 
ing a  concife  narrative  of  the  action.  Philip  Freneau's 
Battle  of  Stonington^ — though  not  of  the  higheft  order 
of  lyric  excellence, — challenges  favorable  comparifon 
with  many  of  the  loyal  effufions  which  have  found 
their  way  to  the  public,  during  the  prefent  war ;  and 
will  be  welcomed  as  an  old  friend  by  fome  who  value 
patriotifm  more  than  poetry.  T. 

Hartford,   Conn.,  July  2%tb,  1864. 


THE  DEFENCE  OF  STONINGTON. 


[From  the  Conn.  Gazette,  Aug.  lyth,  1814.] 

RECORD  OF  THE  EXTRAORDINARY  ATTACK  ON  STON- 

INGTON.t1) 

NEW  LONDON,  AUGUST  17,  1814. 
N  Tuefday  the  9th  inftant,  at   5  P.   M.  the 
Ramijies,  74,  Paffolus,  38,  a  bomb  fhip,  and  the 
Difpatch,  22  gun  brig,  arrived  off  Stonington, 

and  a  flag  was  fent  on  fhore  with  the  following 

note — 

"  On  board  his  Majefty  s  Ship,  Ramilies, 
Stonington^  Aug.  9. 
To  THE  MAGISTRATES  OF  STONINGTON. 

Gentlemen — One  hour  is  allowed  you  from  the  re- 
ceipt of  this  communication,  for  the  removal  of  the 
unoffending  inhabitants. 

THOMAS  M.  HARDY» 


io  The  Defence  of  Stonington. 

This  notification  was  received  by  two  magiftrates(3) 
and  Lieutenant  Hough  of  the  drafted  militia,  who 
went  off  to  meet  the  flag.  The  officer  was  afked  whe- 
ther a  flag  would  not  be  received  on  board.  He  faid 
no  arrangements  could  be  made.  They  inquired  whe- 
ther Com.  Hardy  had  determined  to  deftroy  the  town. 
He  replied  that  fuch  were  his  orders  from  the  Admi- 
ral, and  that  it  would  be  done  moft  effectually. 

When  the  gentlemen  reached  the  more,  a  crowd 
waited  with  great  anxiety  for  the  news  ;  which  being 
dated,  confirmation  flew  through  the  town.  An  ex- 
prefs  was  defpatched  to  General  Cufhing,(4)  at  New 
London.  A  number  of  volunteers  haftened  to  collect 
ammunition  ;  others  ran  to  the  battery,  which  confifted 
of  two  1 8  pounders  and  a  4  pounder,  on  field  carriages, 
with  a  flight  breaft  work,  4  feet  high.  The  rick  and 
the  aged  were  removed  with  hafte:  the  women  and  child- 
ren, with  loud  cries,  were  feen  running  in  every  di- 
rection. Some  of  the  moft  valuable  articles  were  haftily 
got  off  by  hand,  others  placed  in  the  gardens  and 
lots,  or  thrown  into  wells,  to  fave  them  from  the  im- 
pending conflagration.  The  fixty  minutes  expired,  but 
the  dreaded  moment  did  not  bring  the  attack.  Nel- 
fon's  favorite  hero  and  friend  was  feized  with  the  com- 
punctions of  magnanimity  ; — he  remembered  what  an- 
cient Britons  were  ;  he  remembered  that  fomething 
was  due  to  the  character  of  Sir  Thomas  M.  Hardy. 
Three  hours  in  fact  elapfed,  when  at  8  in  the  evening 
the  attack  was  commenced  by  a  difcharge  of  fhells  from 


The  Defence  of  Stonington.  1 1 

the  bomb  ftiip.  Several  barges  and  launches  had  taken 
their  ftations  in  different  points,  from  whence  they 
threw  Congreve  rockets,  and  carcafles.  This  mode 
of  attack  was  continued  inceflantly  till  midnight ;  and 
the  fire  was  returned  occafionally  from  the  battery,  as 
the  light  of  the  rockets  gave  opportunity  with  any 
chance  of  fuccefs. 

The  few  drafted  militia  which  had  been  fometime 
ftationed  there,  under  command  of  Lieutenant  Hough, 
were  placed  in  the  beft  directions  to  give  an  alarm  in 
cafe  a  landing  mould  be  attempted.  During  the  night 
the  volunteers  and  militia  had  aflembled  in  considera- 
ble numbers  ;  and  the  non-combatant  inhabitants  had 
generally  removed  to  the  neighboring  farm-houfes,  in 
the  momentary  expectation  of  feeing  their  abandoned 
dwellings  in  flames.  It  was  a  night  of  inexpreflible 
anguifh  to  many  a  widow  and  orphan,  to  many  aged 
and  infirm,  whofe  little  pittance  they  were  now  appa- 
rently to  lofe  forever.  But  Providence  directed  other- 
wife.  This  compact  little  village  of  100  buildings  had 
been  for  four  hours  covered  with  flames  of  fire  and 
bomb  mells,  and  not  a  {ingle  building  was  confumed 
nor  a  perfon  injured. 

At  the  dawn  of  day  on  the  loth,  the  approach  of  the 
enemy  was  announced  by  a  difcharge  of  Congreve 
rockets  from  feveral  barges  and  a  launch,  which  had 
taken  their  ftation,  on  the  eaft  fide  of  the  town,  and 
out  of  reach  of  the  battery.  Several  volunteers,  with 
fmall  arms  and  the  four  pounder,  haflened  acrofs  the 


12  The  Defence  of  Stonington. 

point,  fuppofing  the  enemy  were  attempting  a  landing. 
Colonel  Randall  of  the  ijth  regiment,  who  at  the  time 
was  moving  towards  the  battery  with  a  detachment  of 
militia,  ordered  them  to  aflift  the  volunteers  in  draw- 
ing over  one  of  the  18  pounders  to  the  extreme  end  of 
the  point ;  the  fire  of  which  in  a  few  minutes  compelled 
the  barges  to  feek  fafety  in  flight.  During  this  time 
the  brig  was  working  up  towards  the  Point,  and  foon 
after  funrife  came  to  anchor,  ftiort  of  half  a  mile  from 
the  battery,  (or  more  correctly,  the  breaftwork).  Our 
ammunition  being  foon  exhausted,  the  guns  were  fpiked, 
and  the  men  who  fought  them,  being  only  about  15  or 
2O,(s)  retired,  leaving  them  behind  for  want  of  ftrength 
to  drag  them  off. 

The  brig  now  continued  deliberately  to  pour  her  32 
pound  mot  and  grape  into  the  Village,  without  our 
having  the  power  of  returning  a  mot,  for  an  hour,  and 
the  bomb  ketch  occafionally  threw  in  mells.  A  frem 
fupply  of  ammunition  being  obtained,  the  18  pounder 
was  withdrawn  from  the  breaftwork,  the  vent  drilled, 
and  the  piece  taken  back  again,  when  fuch  an  animated 
and  well  directed  fire  was  kept  up,  that  at  3  o'clock 
the  brig  flipped  her  cable  and  hauled  off,  with  her 
pumps  going,  having  received  feveral  mots  below  her 
water  line,  and  confiderable  damage  in  her  fpars,  &c. 
During  this  action  between  the  eighteen  pounder  and 
the  brig,  Mr.  Frederick  Denifon  was  flightly  wounded 
in  the  knee,<6)  by  a  fragment  of  a  rock,  and  Mr.  John 
Miner,  badly  burnt  in  his  face  by  the  premature  dif- 


The  Defence  of  Stonington.  1 3 

charge  of  the  gun.  The  flag,  which  was  nailed  to  the 
maft,  was  pierced  with  feven  fhot  holes,(?)  the  breaft- 
work  fomewhat  injured,  and  6  or  8  of  the  dwelling- 
houfes  in  the  vicinity  eflentially  injured.  At  this  time 
a  confiderable  body  of  militia  had  arrived,  and  Briga- 
dier-General Imam(8)  had  taken  the  command  ;  the  in- 
habitants had  recovered  from  the  confternation  of  the 
firft  moments  ;  and  were  deliberately  moving  off  their 
furniture  and  goods.  At  i  o'clock  the  Ramilies  and 
Padlolus  had  taken  Stations  about  two  and  a  half  miles 
from  the  town,  when  refiftance  appearing  hopelefs,  the 
Magiftrates  as  a  laft  refort  applied  to  the  General  for 
permiflion  to  fend  a  flag  off,  being  imprefled  with  the 
opinion  that  there  must  exift  fome  latent  caufe  of  a 
peculiar  nature  to  induce  a  commander  who  had  here- 
tofore diftinguifhed  himfelf  for  a  fcrupulous  regard 
to  the  claims  of  honorable  warfare, — to  induce  him  to 
commit  an  act  fo  repugnant  to  found  policy,  fo  abhor- 
rent to  his  nature,  fo  flagrant  an  outrage  on  humanity. 
The  General,  we  understand,  would  not  fanction,  nor 
did  he  .abfolutely  prohibit,  a  flag  being  fent.  They, 
therefore,  on  their  own  refponfibility,  fent  on  board 
the  Ramilies,  Ifaac  Williams  and  Wm.  Lord,  Efquires, 
with  the  following  letter. 


14  The  Defence  of  Stonington. 

COPY.)  Stonington  Auguft  10,  1814. 

To  SIR  THOMAS  M.  HARDY, 

SIR — Agreeable  to  notice  received  from  you  yefter- 
day,  this  town  is  now  cleared  of  "  unoffending  inha- 
bitants," and  they  feeling  anxious  about  the  fate  of  their 
village,  are  deiirous  to  know  from,  you,  your  deter- 
mination refpecting  it.  Yours,  &c. 

Amos  Denifon,  Burgess. 
William  Lord,  Magistrate. 

The  deputation  proceeded  on  board  the  Ramilies, 
and  mortly  after  an  officer  informed  the  boatmen  that 
they  might  return  to  the  more,  as  the  gentlemen  would 
be  landed  in  a  boat  from  the  (hip  ;  and  that  Captain 
Hardy  had  declared  that  no  further  hoftilities  would 
be  committed  againft  the  town.  After  remaining  on 
board  an  hour,  or  more,  the  deputation  were  conveyed 
in  a  flag  from  the  fhip,  which  was  met  by  one  from  the 
more.  They  brought  with  them  a  very  fingular  and 
extraordinary  communication.  An  exact  copy  cannot 
at  prefent  be  obtained,  as  official  etiquette  will  not  per- 
mit ;  but  having  read  it  when  it  was  received  on  more, 
as  far  as  memory  ferves  us,  it  was  as  follows  : 

On  hoard  H.  M.  Ship  Ramilies ,  off  Stonington ,  Aug.  10. 

GENTLEMEN — You  having  given  aflurances  that  no 
torpedoes  have  been  fitted  out  from  Stonington  ;  and 
having  engaged  to  exert  your  influence  to  prevent  any 
from  being  fitted  out  or  receiving  any  aid  from  your 


'The  Defence  of  Stonington.  15 

town  :  If  you  fend  on  board  this  fhip  tomorrow  at 
eight  o'clock,  Mrs.  Stewart,  wife  of  James  Stewart  efq. 
late  His  Majefty's  Consul  at  New  London,  and  their 
children,  I  engage  that  no  further  hoftilities  mall  be 
committed  againft  Stonington  ;  otherwife  I  mall  pro- 
ceed to  deilroy  it  effectually. — For  which  purpofe  I 
poflefs  ample  means. 

T.  M.  HARDY,  Capt. 

This  letter  was  received  indignantly.  No  anfwer 
was  given.  It  was  a  fact  well  known  that  no  torpedoes 
have  been  fitted  out  at  Stonington,  and  that  the  in- 
habitants are  unfriendly  to  the  fyftem  ;  but  neither 
individuals  nor  the  town  have  power  to  prevent  their 
reforting  to  that  place.  The  condition  fine  qua  non, 
is  truly  tragi- far  deal.  Neither  the  town  of  Stonington 
or  the  State  of  Connecticut,  had  any  legal  power  to 
comply  with  it,  which  Capt.  Hardy  well  knew.  And  if 
Stonington  Point  with  its  rocky  foundations  had  been  in 
danger  of  being  blown  up,  fcarcely  a  voice  would  have 
been  raifed  to  have  faved  it  on  fuch  difgraceful  terms. 
The  firft  duty  of  a  citizen  we  are  taught  in  Connecticut, 
is  to  obey  the  laws.  Mrs.  Stewart  is  under  the  pro- 
tection of  the  government  of  the  United  States,  and 
the  petition  of  her  hufband  for  a  permiffion  for  a  de- 
parture is  in  the  hands  of  a  proper  authority,  who  will 
undoubtedly  decide  correctly  in  the  case. (9) 

Our  countrymen  at  a  diftance,  from  the  importance 
Capt.  Hardy  has  attached  to  the  circumftance  of  Mrs. 


1 6  The  Defence  of  Stonington. 

Stewart's  being  fent  off  to  the  Britifh  fquadron,  may 
poflibly  apprehend  that  me  has  received  infult,  or  fig- 
nified  fome  fears  for  the  perfonal  fafety  of  herfelf  and 
children. — So  far  from  this  being  the  fact,  no  lady  ever 
experienced  greater  civilities  from  the  citizens  ;  as  no 
one  has  better  deferved  them.  And  her  feelings  during 
the  proceedings  at  Stonington,  demanded  the  fympathy 
of  her  friends. 

By  the  terms  offered  by  Capt.  Hardy,  it  was  impof- 
fible  to  difcover  whether  he  was  moft  doubtful  of  his 
ability  to  accomplim  the  destruction  of  the  town,  or 
defirous  of  a  pretext  to  fave  it.  He  aflured  the  gen- 
tlemen who  accompanied  the  flag  that  this  was  the  moft 
unpleafant  expedition  he  had  undertaken. 

The  truce  on  the  part  of  the  enemy  having  expired 
at  8  o'clock  on  Thurfday  morning,  a  flag  was  foon  after 
obferved  at  the  battery  to  be  coming  on  more,  and 
there  not  being  fufficient  time  to  give  information  of 
the  fact  at  head  quarters  and  receive  inftructions,  it  was 
determined  by  the  officer  then  commanding  to  fend  a 
boat  off  to  receive  the  communication.  Mr.  Faxon,  of 
Stonington,  took  charge  of  the  boat,  met  the  flag,  and 
offered  to  convey  the  difpatch  agreeable  to  its  directions. 
The  Britifh  officer,  Lieut.  Claxton,  questioned  his  au- 
thority to  receive  it ;  enquired  whether  Mrs.  Stewart 
would  be  fent  off;  and  faid  he  would  go  on  more.  Mr. 
Faxon  replied,  that  he  knew  nothing  of  Mrs.  Stewart ; 
and  that  if  he  attempted  to  proceed  for  the  more,  he 
would  undoubtedly  be  fired  on.  He  continued  his 


The  Defence  of  Stonington.  1 7 

courfe,  when  a  centinel  was  directed  to  fire  forward  of  the 
boat,  but  the  ball  paffed  through  the  after  fail.  They 
immediately  put  about  and  fleered  for  the  fhip ;  the 
lieutenant  fwearing  revenge,  for  what  he  termed  an 
infult  to  his  flag. 

An  explanation  of  the  circumflance  was  immediately 
tranfmitted  by  General  Imam  to  Capt.  Hardy,  which 
he  received  as  fatisfaclory. 

At  the  moment,  a  flag  had  ftarted  for  the  Ramilies,(10) 
from  the  civil  authority  of  the  town,  which  was  received 
on  board ;  by  which  was  fent  the  following  letter : — 

Stonington  Eoro\  Aug.  14,  1814. 

To  THOMAS  M.  HARDY,   Commander  of  H.  B.  M.  Jhlf 

Kami  lies. 

SIR — Since  the  flag  went  into  New  London  for  Mrs. 
Stewart,  and  family,  General  Cufhing,  who  commands 
at  New  London,  has  written,  we  are  informed,  to  the 
Secretary  of  War  on  the  fubject,  and  it  is  our  opinion 
that  the  requeft  will  be  complied  with.  But  whatever 
may  be  the  refult  of  the  communication  from  Gen. 
Cufhing,  you  will  be  fatisfied  it  is  not  in  our  power  to 
enter  into  any  arrangement  with  you  refpeding  her. 

From  yours,  &c. 

ISAAC  WILLIAMS, 

WILLIAM  LORD,  \Magiftrates, 

ALEXANDER  G.  SMITH, 

JOSEPH  SMITH,  Warden. 

GEO.   HuBBARD, 

AMOS 
3 


1 8  'The  Defence  of  Stonington. 

To  this  letter,  Capt.  Hardy  replied  verbally,  that  he 
fliould  allow  till  12  o'clock  for  Mrs.  Stewart  to  be 
brought  on  board. <xi)  At  this  time  the  principal  part  of 
three  regiments  of  militia  had  arrived,  and  the  town 
was  perfectly  fecure  againft  a  landing. 

At  3  o'clock,  the  bomb  mip  commenced  throwing 
fhells  into  the  town ;  and  being  out  of  reach  of  our 
cannon,  the  General  withdrew  the  militia,  excepting  a 
guard  of  50  men  who  were  ordered  to  patrol  the  ftreets 
for  the  extinguifhment  of  fire,  mould  any  happen. 
The  bombardment  continued  till  evening. 

On  Friday  morning  the  bomb  mip  renewed  her  ope- 
rations a  little  before  funrife,  while  the  Ramilies  and 
Pactolus  were  warping  in.  At  eight  o'clock  the  frigate 
opened  her  fire  and  was  foon  followed  by  the  Ramilies. 
At  this  time  the  cannon  were  ordered  to  be  moved  to 
the  north  end  of  the  town,  where  they  would  have  been 
ferviceable  if  an  attempt  had  been  made  to  land  under 
cover  of  the  (hips.  This  was  a  very  hazardous  fervice, 
as  the  party  would  be  entirely  expofed  to  the  fire  of  the 
enemy.  Volunteers  in  fufficient  numbers  inftantly 
offered  their  fervices  ;  among  whom  were  upwards  of 
twenty  of  the  Norwich  artillery.  The  command  of  the 
party  was  entrufted  to  Lieutenant  Lathrop,  (")  of  that 
corps.  They  marched  to  the  battery  and  brought  off 
the  pieces  without  the  fmalleft  accident ;  exhibiting  all 
the  fteadinefs  which  character ifes  veteran  foldiers. 

This  tremendous  cannonade  and  bombardment  con- 
tinued till  nearly  noon,  when  it  ce^fed  ;  and  about 


The  Defence  of  Stonington.  \  g 

four  o'clock  the  fhips  hauled  off  to  their  former  an- 
chorage. 

During  the  fucceeding  night  a  large  force  was  kept 
on  guard,  in  the  expectation  and  hope  that  a  landing 
would  be  attempted.  The  militia  during  this  afflicting 
fcene  difcovered  the  very  beft  difpofition,  and  were 
eager  to  take  revenge  of  the  enemy  or  facrifice  their 
lives  in  the  conteft. 

It  may  be  confidered  miraculous  that  during  the  fe- 
veral  attacks,  while  fo  many  were  expofed  to  this  ter- 
rible and  protracted  bombardment  and  cannonade,  not 
a  perfon  was  killed,  and  but  five  or  fix  wounded,  and 
thofe  but  flightly.  Among  the  wounded  is  Lieutenant 
Hough(J3)  of  the  drafted  militia. 

On  Saturday  morning  the  enemy  relinquifhed  the 
hope  of  burning  the  town,  weighed  anchor,  and  pro- 
ceeded up  Fifher's  Ifland  found. 

The  volunteers  who  fo  glorioufly  fought  in  the  bat- 
tery, deferve  the  thanks  of  their  country*  No  men 
could  have  done  better.  Their  example  will  have  the 
happieft  influence. 

About  forty  buildings  are  more  or  lefs  injured,  8  or 
10  efTentially  fo  ;  and  two  or  three  may  be  confidered 
as  ruined.  The  damage  was  principally  done  by  the 
brig.  Many  fhells  did  not  explode,  feveral  were  ex- 
tinguifhed.  The  Congreve  Rockets  which  were  fright- 
ful at  firft,  loft  their  terrors,  and  effected  little. 

The  inhabitants,  fearing  another  attack,  have  not 
returned  to  their  dwellings,  and  their  defolate  fituation 


20  The  Defence  of  Stonington. 

• 

calls  loudly  upon  the  philanthropy  of  their  fellow  citi- 
zens. If  a  brief  fhould  be  granted  for  collections  in  the 
churches  of  the  State  we  truft  very  effential  aid  will  be 
furnifhed.  Nineteen-twentieths  of  the  inhabitants,  it 
is  faid,  have  no  other  property  than  the:r  dwellings. 

A  Nantucket  man  has  been  on  board  the  Britifh 
fleet  to  redeem  his  boat,  and  learned  that  the  Difpatch 
had  2  men  killed  and  12  wounded;  her  lofs  was  un- 
doubtedly much  greater. 


NAMES  OF  VOLUNTEERS. 

[From  the  Conn.  Gazette,  Aug.  24th.] 

The  following  is  handed  us  as  a  lift  of  the  volunteers 
(tho'  prefumed  not  entirely  perfect,)  of  thofe  who  fo 
bravely  flood  the  brunt  of  the  attack  of  Stonington 
Point : — 

Of  Stonington : — 

Capt.  George  Fellows,          Gurdon  Trumbull, 
Capt.  Wm.  Potter,  Alex.  G.  Smith, 

Dr.  Wm.  Lord,  Amos  Denifon  jun., 

Lieut.  H.  G.  Lewis,  Stanton  Gallup, 

Enfign  D.  Frink,  Eb.  Morgan, 

John  Miner. 


The  Defence  of  Stonington.  2 1 

OfMyJlic:— 

Jefle  Deane,  Jeremiah  Holmes, 

Deane  Gallup,  N.  Cleft, 

Fred.  Haley,  Jedediah  Reed. 

Of  Groton : — 

Alfred  White,  Frank  Daniels, 

Ebenezer  Morgan>  Giles  Moran, 

Of  New  London : — 

Major  Simeon  Smith, 

Capt.  Noah  Letter  (formerly  of  the  Army), 

Major  N.  Frink,  Lambert  Williams. 

From  Maffacbufetts :— 
Capt.  Leonard,  and  Mr.  Dunham. 


[From  the  Conn.  Gazette,  Aug.  31  ft.] 

By  an  error  of  the  compofitor,  the  following  names 
were  omitted  in  the  lift  publifhed  in  our  laft  paper,  of 
volunteers  who  fo  greatly  contributed  to  the  glorious 
defence  and  prefervation  of  Stonington,  viz. : — 
Simeon  Haley,  Thomas  Wilcox, 

Jeremiah  Haley,  Luke  Palmer, 

Frederick  Denifon,  George  Palmer, 

John  Miner,  Wm.  G.  Bum. 

Afa  Lee, 

There  were  probably  others,   whom   we  have  not 
learnt. 


22  The  Defence  of  Stonington. 

[From  the  original  in  the  Comptroller's  office,  at  Hartford.] 

MUSTER  ROLL  of  the  8th  Company  of  Infantry  un- 
der the  command  of  CAPTAIN  WM.  POTTER  in  the 
Thirtieth  Regiment  of  Con.  Militia  in  fervice  of  the 
United  States,  at  Stonington,  commanded  by  Lieut. 
Col.  WM.  RANDALL,  from  the  9th  of  Auguft  when  laft 
muftered,  to  the  2yth  of  Auguft  1814.— 


Commencement     Expiration 
of  fervice.       of  fervice. 


Names  and  Rank. 

Captain,  William  Potter,  Aug.  9  Aug.  27 


Lieut.  Horatio  G.  Lewis, 
En/ign,  Daniel  Frink, 

Sergeants : 
Francis  Amy, 
Charles  H.  Smith, 
Peleg  Hancox, 
Gurdon  Trumbull, 

Corporals  : 

Azariah  Stanton  jr., 
Junia  Cheefebrough, 
Jofhua  Swan  jr., 

Privates : 
Phineas  Wilcox, 
Hamilton  White, 
Henry  Wilcox, 
Nathan  Wilcox, 
Samuel  Burtch, 
Jonathan  Palmer, 
Andrew  P.  Stanton, 


9 

22 

9 

16 
9 

22 

9 
9 
9 
9 
9 
9 
9 


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27 


27 
27 
27 

27 


Alterations  and  Re- 
marks Jince  laft 
mufter. 


detached  for  fervice 
and  ordered  to  N. 
London,  Aug.  zz. 


23 
27 

27 
27 
27 


; 


detached  for  fervice 
&  ordered  to  New 
London,  Aug.  23. 

detached  for  fervice 
&  ordered  to  New 
London,  Aug.  23. 


The  Defence  of  Stonington. 


23 


Aug.  9  Aug.  27 


cc 


James  Stanton, 
Thomas  Breed, 
Amos  Loper, 
Samuel   Bottum,  Jr., 
Benj.  Merritt, 
Elifha  Cheefebrough  Jr., 
Chriftopr.  Wheeler, 
Amos  Hancox, 
Zebadiah  Palmer, 
Nathl.  Waldron, 
Thomas  Spencer, 
Nathl.  M.  Pendleton, 
Simon  Carew, 
Elifha  Faxon  Jun., 
Ebenezer  Halpin, 

Afa  Wilcox  Jun., 
Warren  Palmer, 


Jofeph  Bailey  Jun. 
Nathl.  Lewis, 


I  certify,  upon  honor,  that  this  Mufter  Roll  exhibits 
a  true  ftatement  of  the  8th  Company  ;  and  that  the 
remarks  fet  oppofite  the  men's  names  are  accurate  and 
juft. 

WILLIAM  POTTER,  Capt. 


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(     Volunteer    exempt, 

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(     difcharg.,  Aug.  17. 

9 

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(     difcharg.,  Aug.  20. 

9 

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9 
9 

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{Produced  certificate 
of  parole  on   15th. 
Aug.  &  difcharged. 

9 
9 

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2  3  <j      &  ordered  to  New 
2>y    (     London,  Aug.  23. 

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19 

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27 

20 

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22 

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f  detached  for  fervice 

22 

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2  o  '<      &  ordered  to  New 
^    (^     London,  Aug.  23. 

22 
22 

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f  detached  for  fervice 
2J  <      &  ordered  to  New 
|^     London,  23  Aug. 

(       Waiter    to    Capt. 

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27  t       Wm.  Potter. 

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_       (       Waiter    to   Lieut. 
^  J  |      G.  Lewis. 

24  The  Defence  of  Stonington. 

We  certify  upon  honor,  that  the  foregoing  Mufter 
Roll  exhibits  a  true  ftatement  of  Captain  William  Pot- 
ter's Company  ;  and  that  the  remarks  fet  oppofite  the 
men's  names  are  accurate  and  juft. 

JOHN  JAMIESON  JR.,  A/f.  Adjt.  Genl  S3 
Muftering  Officer ',  per  order. 

WM  LORD,  Regimental  Surgeon. 


ACCOUNT  OF  THE  ATTACK,  FURNISHED  FOR  PUBLI- 
CATION, BY  THE  MAGISTRATES,  WARDEN  AND  BUR- 
GESSES. ('*) 

[From  the  Conn.  Gazette,  Sept.  yth,] 

Stonington  Borough,  Aug.  29,  1814. 
Mr.  GREEN — In  relation  to  the  extraordinary  attack 
of  the  enemy,  of  the  9th  inft.,  on  this  village,  the 
public  have  been  furnimed  with  various  accounts  ;  and 
though  thecircumftantial  and  generally  correct  account 
given  in  your  paper  [of  the  yth  of  Augufl,]  precludes 
the  neceflity  of  a  recapitulation  of  the  whole  tranf- 
action,  yet  this  village  having  been  the  object  of  the 
attack  and  refentment  of  Sir  Thomas,  the  Magiftrates, 
Warden  and  Burgefles  refiding  therein,  feeling  deeply 
interefted  that  fome  official  document  comprehending 
a  fupply  of  fome  fads  not  given,  and  alteration  of 


The  Defence  of  Stonington.  25 

others,  and  a  general  ftatement  relative  to  the  whole, 
fhould  be  publifhed, — offer  the  public  the  following 
statement  : 

On  Tuefday  afternoon  of  the  9th  inft.  anchored  off 
our  harbor,  the  frigate  Pactolus,  the  Terror,  a  bomb 
fhip,  and  the  brig  Difpatcb  of  20  guns.  From  the  dif- 
ficulty of  the  navigation  in  Fifher's  Ifland  Sound,  we 
have  been  generally  impreffed  that  such  mips  of  war 
dare  not  approach  us  ;  but  the  prefumption  of  the 
enemy  has  created  new  fears,  and  we  think  it  our  duty 
to  fay,  that  further  means  of  defence  and  protection 
ought  to  be  afforded  us  ;  this  we  have  often  requefted. 
Various  were  the  opinions  refpecting  the  object  of  the 
enemy,  but  foon  all  was  fettled.  A  flag  was  difcovered 
to  leave  the  frigate  and  row  towards  the  town.  The 
impropriety  of  fuffering  them  to  come  on  more  was 
fuggefted  ;  and  a  boat  was  immediately  obtained,  Capt. 
Amos  Palmer,  William  Lord  Efq.,  and  Lieut.  Hough 
of  the  detachment  here,  felected,  and  the  flag  of  the 
enemy  met  by  ours,  when  we  received  the  following 
unexpected  and  fhort  notice — (This  not  having  been 
furnifhed  the  public  correctly  we  give  it  at  length :) 

His  Britannic  Majefly  s  fliif  PACTOLUS, 
9/A  ofAuguft,  1814,  balfpaft  5  o'clock,  P.  M. 
Not  wifhing  to  deftroy  the  unoffending  inhabitants 
refiding  in  the  town  of  Stonington,  one  hour  is  given 

4 


26  The  Defence  of  Stonington. 

them  from  the  receipt  of  this,   to  remove   out  of  the 

town. 

T.  M.  HARDY,  Copt,  of  H.  B.  M. 

Ship  RAMILIES. 

To  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of 
Stonington. 

From  the  date  of  this  communication  it  will  appear 
that  Commander  Hardy  was  himfelf  on  board  the  Pac- 
tolus  to  direct  the  attack  ;  the  Ramilies  then  laying  at 
anchor  at  the  weft  end  of  Fimer's  Ifland.  The  people 
aflembled  in  great  numbers  to  hear  what  was  the  word 
from  the  enemy ;  when  the  above  was  read  aloud. 
The  enemy  in  the  barge  lay  upon  their  oars  a  few  mo- 
ments, probably  to  fee  the  crowd  and  if  fome  confter- 
nation  might  not  prevail.  Whatever  effect  was  pro- 
duced, this  we  know,  that  Sir  Thomas's  "  unoffend- 
ing inhabitants"  did  not  agree  to  give  up  the  fhip, 
though  threatened  by  a  force  competent,  in  a  human 
view,  to  deftroy  them,  when  compared  with  theprefent 
means  of  defence  in  their  power.  It  was  exclaimed, 
from  old  and  young,  We  will  defend.  The  male  citi- 
zens, though  duly  appreciating  the  humanity  of  Sir 
Thomas,  in  not  wifhing  to  deftroy  them,  thought  pro- 
per to  defend  their  wives  and  their  children,  and,  in 
many  inftances,  all  their  property  ;  and  we  feel  a  plea- 
fure  in  faying  that  a  united  fpirit  of  defence  prevailed, 
and,  during  the  fhort  hour  granted  us,  exprefles  were 
fent  to  Gen.  Cufhing  at  New  London,  and  to  Col. 
Randall,*1*)  whofe  regiment  refided  neareft  to  the  fcene 


'The  Defence  of  Stonington.  27 

of  danger.  The  detachment  ftationed  here  under  Lieut. 
Hough  was  embodied;  Capt.  Potter,  refiding  within 
the  Borough,  gave  orders  to  aflemble  all  the  officers 
and  men  under  his  command  that  could  be  immedi- 
ately collected.  They  cheerfully  and  quickly  afTembled, 
animated  with  the  true  fpirit  of  patriotifm.  The  am- 
munition for  our  two  i8-pounders  and  4-pounder  was 
collected  at  the  little  breaft-work  erected  by  ourfelves. 
The  citizens  of  the  Borough,  affifted  by  two  ftrangers 
from  M  attach  ufetts,  manned  the  i8-pounders  at  the 
breaft-work,  and  alfo  the  4-pounder.  One  caufe  of 
difcouragement,  only,  feemed  to  prevail,  which  was 
the  deficiency  of  ammunition  for  the  cannon.  This 
circumftance,  however,  together  with  the  fuperior  force 
arrayed  againft  us,  did  not  abate  the  zeal  for  refiftance. 
Such  guards  of  mufketry  as  were  in  our  power  to  place, 
were  ftationed  at  different  points  on  the  fhores.  In  this 
ftate  of  preparation  we  waited  the  attack  of  the  enemy. 
About  8  o'clock  in  the  evening  they  commenced  by 
the  fire  of  a  mell  from  the  bomb-mip,  which  was  im- 
mediately returned  by  a  mot  from  our  i8-pounder. 
This  attack  of  the  enemy  was  immediately  fucceeded 
by  one  from  three  launches  and  four  barges,  furround- 
ing  the  point,  throwing  rockets  and  mot  into  the  vil- 
lage. This  alfo  was  returned  as  often  as,  by  the  light 
of  the  rockets  ftreaming  from  the  barges,  we  could  dif- 
cover  them.  Affifted  by  the  above  military  force,  the 
inhabitants  alone,  fomefeventy  years  old,  defended  the 
town  until  about  1 1  o'clock ;  and  had  it  not  been  for 


^8  The  Defence  of  Stonington. 

the  fpirited  refiftance  manifefted,  a  landing  no  doubt, 
would  have  been  effected.  At  this  time  Col.  Randall 
had  arrived,  and  having  iflued  orders  to  the  militia  un- 
der his  command,  they  began  to  aflemble,  and  from 
the  fhort  notice  given  them  were  truly  prompt  and  ac- 
tive in  appearing  at  the  poft  of  danger  :  fome  volun- 
teers had  alfo  arrived.  From  this  additional  ftrength, 
the  apprehenfions  of  the  enemy's  landing,  in  a  mea- 
fure  vanimed.  Their  {hells,  rockets  and  carcafles,  ha- 
ving been  prevented  from  fpreading  the  deftruction 
intended,  they  ceafed  firing  them  about  12  o'clock. 
All  was  ftill  from  this  time  until  day-light.  A  fire  of 
rockets  and  mot  from  the  launches  and  barges  again 
commenced,  which  was  fpiritedly  returned  from  our 
artillery  taken  from  the  breaft-work,  in  open  view  of 
the  enemy  and  expofed  to  their  mot,  on  the  end  of  the 
point,  and  they  [were]  compelled  to  recede.  This 
truly  hazardous  fervice  was  nobly  performed.  Col. 
Randall  having  been  prompt  in  his  appearance,  as 
were  all  the  officers  and  foldiers  of  his  regiment,  they 
were  now  organized,  ready  and  eager  to  receive  our 
invaders.  From  the  fpirit  manifefted  among  the  citi- 
zens, volunteers  and  foldiers,  and  the  judicious  ar- 
rangements made  of  the  troops  aflembled,  had  a  landing 
been  attempted  a  good  account  would  no  doubt  have 
been  given  of  them.  We  were  now  alfo  affifted  by 
numbers  of  volunteers.  The  barges  having  receded 
from  the  fire  of  our  four  and  eighteen-pounder  on  the 
Point,  they  were  taken  back  to  the  breaft-work. 


The  Defence  of  Stonington.  29 

About  8  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  Wednefday,  the 
Brig  \_Difpatcb~]  hauled  within  half  a  mile  of  our  breaft- 
work,  and  opened  a  well  directed  and  animated  fire. 
Our  few  guns  being  now  well  manned  by  citizens  and 
volunteers,  from  Stonington,  New  London,  Miftick 
and  Groton,  they  were  ready  to  receive  her.  Her  fire 
was  returned  with  a  fpirit  and  courage  rarely  to  be 
equalled, — and  of  those  gallant  fouls  who  flood  this 
conflict,  we  can  only  fay,  they  glorioufly  did  their  duty. 
Heroes  having  fo  nobly  acted,  with  ours,  will  receive 
the  plaudit  of  their  country.  What  effect  fuch  bravery 
had  on  the  enemy,  will  appear  from  the  fact,  that  the 
brig  was  compelled  to  cut  her  cable  and  retire  out  of 
reach  of  our  mot.  Her  anchor  has  fince  been  taken 
up,  with  a  number  of  fathoms  of  cable.  No  attack 
was  afterwards  made  by  the  brig.  This  conteft  with 
the  brig  (called  the  Difpatcb),  continued  on  our  part 
from  the  breaft-work  until  the  ammunition  was  ex- 
pended. To  this  circumftance,  unfortunately  for  the 
village  and  mortifying  to  thofe  fo  gallantly  engaged 
in  the  defence,  may  be  attributed  the  principal  injury 
fuftained  by  the  buildings.  For  two  hours  or  more, 
fhe  kept  up  a  conftant  fire  without  having  it  in  our 
power  to  return  a  mot :  during  which  time,  we  are  con- 
fident, had  there  been  a  fupply  of  ammunition,  fhe 
would  have  been  taught  the  ufe  and  meaning  of  her 
name. 

The   further  particulars  which  tranfpired  on  Wed- 
nefday and  Thurfday,  having  been  noticed  by  you,  in 


30  "The  Defence  of  Stonington. 

the  publication  above  referred  to,  very  correctly,  the 
public  muft  be  fatisfied  without  any  comments  from 
us.  In  the  publication  of  the  tranfaclions  of  Friday, 
we  have  difcovered  one  error.  Amidft  the  combined 
fire  of  the  Ramilies,  frigate  and  bomb-mip,  Lieut.  La- 
throp  and  volunteers  from  the  Norwich  Artillery,  in 
fact  did  proceed,  to  undertake  in  affifting  to  get  off  the 
cannon  from  the  breaft-work,  but  they  met  other  brave 
lads  who  had  accomplifhed  this  hazardous  duty.  The 
praife  therefore  of  this  performance,  however  they  may 
have  diftinguimed  themfelves  in  other  duties,  is  not 
correctly  beftowed. 

In  paffing  the  proceedings  of  Thurfday  and  Friday, 
we  would  not  overlook  the  fingular  communication 
received  from  Commodore  Hardy,  which  preceded  the 
fire  on  Thurfday.  Two  fubjects  efteemed  very  im- 
portant by  Sir  Thomas  feem  connected,  Torpedoes  and 
Mrs.  Stewart, — a  lady  we  prefume  worthy  of  the  notice 
even  of  Commodore  Hardy.  But  a  demand  made  on 
thofe  with  whom,  it  was  well  known,  no  power  exifted 
to  comply,  is  not  a  little  extraordinary  :  betides,  this 
communication  is  totally  different  from  and  uncon- 
nected with  the  one  it  was  fent  as  an  anfwer  to.  It 
would  appear  from  reading  the  documents,  that  aflu- 
rances  were  given  that  no  torpedoes  ever  did,  or  ever 
mould,  go  from  this  place.  This  was  not  the  fact ;  no 
promifes  or  confeflions  of  any  kind  were  ever  made. 
To  this  fingular  letter  no  general  reply  was  given  ;  that 
part,  only,  [was]  noticed,  relative  to  Mrs.  Stewart. 


The  Defence  of  Stonington.  31 

The  enemy  left  us  on  Friday,  without  having  accom- 
plifhed  that  deftru6tion  which  they  told  us  was  to  be 
effected.  The  damage  done  the  buildings  is  eftimated 
at  about  four  thoufand  dollars.  This  would  undoubt- 
edly have  been  much  greater,  had  not  the  volunteer 
vigilant  firemen(l6)  from  Capt.  Potter's  company  before 
mentioned,  and  others,  continued  firm  at  their  pofts, 
determined  that  not  a  flame  kindled  by  thofe  fiery  en- 
gines of  the  enemy  but  mould  be  extinguifhed, — and 
it  was  done.  This  duty,  perhaps,  was  as  important 
and  ufeful  for  the  falvation  of  the  village,  as  any  per- 
formed during  the  conflict. 

The  lift  of  individuals  given  to  the  public  as  diftin- 
guifhing  themfelves  during  the  conteft,  we  efteem  very 
imperfect.  To  give  a  correct  lift  of  all  thofe  who  did 
diftinguifh  themfelves  in  the  various  duties  that  were 
performed,  is  not  eafy  to  do ;  we  mail  therefore  for- 
bear. Having  thought  proper  to  beftowa  juft  tribute 
of  praife  on  the  officers  and  foldiers  of  the  3Oth  Regi- 
ment, who  firft  arrived  at  the  fcene  of  action,  it  becomes 
us  to  exprefs,  alfo,  the  high  fenfe  which  we  entertain 
of  the  fervices  and  judicious  and  foldier-like  conduct 
of  Brigadier-General  Imam,  and  the  officers  and  foldiers 
of  the  8th  and  2oth  Regiments,  aflembled  under  his 
command. 

During  this  protracted  bombardment,  nothing  more 
excites  our  aftonimment  and  gratitude  than  this,  that 
not  a  man  was  killed  on  our  part.  We  underftand  from 
good  authority,  the  enemy  had  a  number  killed  and 


32  The  Defence  of  Stonington. 

feveral  badly  wounded,*1?)  in  this  unprovoked  attack 
upon  us. 

We  have  made  fome  eftimate  of  the  number  of  {hells 
and  fire  carcafles  thrown  into  the  village,  and  we  find 
there  has  been  about  three  hundred.  The  amount  of 
metal  fired  by  the  enemy  will  exceed,  we  think,  fifty 
tons.  About  three  or  four  tons  of  bombs,  carcafles 
and  mot  have  been  collected.* 


WILLIAM  LORD, 

'trates. 


ALEX.  G.  SMITH,  j 

JOSEPH  SMITH,         Warden. 

AMOS  PALMER, 

AMOS  DENISON, 

GEO.  HUBBARD,  \Burgeffes. 

THOMAS  ASH, 

REUBEN  CHESEBROUGH, 

*  "  Some  refpeftable  citizens  from  motives  of  curiofity  weighed  feveral 
fhells  &c.,  and  found  their  weight  to  be  as  follows. 

One  of  the  largeft  carcafles,  partly  full  of  the  combuftible,  216  Ib. 
One  of  the  fmalleft  fort         do.  103 

One  of  the  largeft  kind  empty,  1 89 

One  of  the  largeft  bomb  fhells,  189 

One  of  the  fmalleft      do.  90 

One,  marked  on  it  (fire  1 6  Ib)  1 6 

One  of  the  largeft  carcafles  partly  full,  was  fet  on  fire,  which  b  urnt 
half  an  hour,  emitting  a  horrid  ftench  ;  in  a  calm  the  flame  would  rife  ten 
feet.  Some  of  the  rockets  were  (harp  pointed,  others  not,  made  of  meet 
iron  very  thick,  containing  at  the  lower  end  fome  of  them  a  fufee  of  gre- 
nade, calculated  to  burft,  and  if  they  were  taken  hold  of  before  the  ex- 


The  Defence  of  Stonington.  33 

LETTER  FROM  CAPT.  AMOS  PALMER,  TO  THE  SECRE- 
TARY OF  WAR. 

(From  Niles's  Weekly  Regifter,  Oct.  ai,  1815.] 

DEFENCE  OF  STONINGTON. 

The  defence  .of  Sconington  by  a  handful  of  brave 
citizens  was  more  like  an  effufion  of  feeling,  warm 
from  the  heart,  than  a  concerted  military  movement. 
The  refult  of  it,  we  all  know,  and  it  afforded  fincere 
delight  to  every  patriot.  But  the  particulars  we  have 
never  feen  fo  accurately  defcribed  as  in  the  following 
concife  narrative  from  the  chairman  of  the  committee 
of  defence,  to  the  Secretary  of  War,  of  which  we  have 
been  provided  with  a  copy  for  publication. — 'Nat.  In- 
telligencer. 

"  Stonington  Borough,  Aug.  21,  1815. 

To  the  Hon.  Wm.  H.  Crawford, 

Secretary  of  War. 
SIR: 

The  former  Secretary  of  War  put  into  my  hands, 
as  chairman  of  the  committee  of  defence,  the  two  18- 
pounders  and  all  the  munitions  of  war  that  were  here, 
belonging  to  the  general  government,  to  be  ufed  for 
the  defence  of  the  town,-— and  I  gave  my  receipt  for 
the  fame. 

plofion,  might  prove  dangerous  ;  one  or  two  perfons  received  injury  in 
this  way.  They  appear  to  contain  a  greater  variety  of  combuftibles  than 
the  fire  carcafles. 

5 


34  *rhe  Defence  of  Stonington. 

As  there  is  no  military  officer  here,  it  becomes  my 
duty  to  inform  you  [of]  the  ufe  we  have  made  of  it. 
That  on  the  9th  of  Auguft  laft  [year],  the  Ramilies 
74,  the  Paftolus  44,  the  Terror  bomb-mip,  and  the 
Defpatch  gun  brig,  anchored  off  the  harbor.  Commo- 
dore Hardy  fent  off  a  boat,  with  a  flag ;  we  met  him 
with  another  from  the  more,  when  the  officer  of  the 
flag  handed  me  a  note  from  Commodore  Hardy,  in- 
forming that  one  hour  was  given  the  unoffending  in- 
habitants, before  the  town  would  be  deftroyed. 

We  returned  to  the  more,  where  all  the  male  inhabit- 
ants were  collected,  when  I  read  the  note  aloud ;  they 
all  exclaimed,  they  would  defend  the  place  to  the  laft 
extremity,  and  if  it  was  deftroyed,  they  would  be  buried 
in  the  ruins. 

We  repaired  to  a  fmall  battery  that  we  had  hove  up 
— nailed  our  colors  to  the  flag  ftafF — others  lined  the 
more  with  their  mufkets. 

At  about  feven  in  the  evening,  they  put  off  five 
barges  and  a  large  launch,  carrying  from  32  to  9  Ib, 
carronades  in  their  bows,  and  opened  their  fire  from 
their  {hipping,  with  bombs,  carcafles,  rockets,  round, 
grape  and  cannifter  (hot,  and  fent  their  boats  to  land 
under  cover  of  their  fire.  We  let  them  come  within 
fmall  grape  diftance,  when  we  opened  our  fire  upon 
them,  from  our  two  i8-pounders,  with  round  and  grape 
{hot.  They  foon  retreated  out  of  grape  diftance,  and 
attempted  a  landing  on  the  eaft  fide  of  the  village ; 
we  dragged  a  fix-pounder  that  we  had  mounted  over, 


The  Defence  of  Stonington,  35 

and  met  them  with  grape,  and  all  our  mufkets  opened 
fire  on  them,  fo  that  they  were  willing  to  retreat  the 
fecond  time.  They  continued  their  fire  'till  1 1  at  night. 

The  next  morning  at  feven  o'clock,  the  brig  Def- 
patch  anchored  within  piftol  mot  of  our  battery,  and 
they  fent  five  barges  and  two  large  launches  to  land  un- 
der cover  of  their  whole  fire  (being  joined  by  the  Nim- 
rod 20  gun  brig).  When  the  boats  approached  within 
grape  diftance,  we  opened  our  fire  on  them  with  round 
and  grape  mot.  They  retreated  and  came  round  the 
eaft  fide  of  the  town.  We  checked  them  with  our  fix 
pounder  and  mufkets,  'till  we  dragged  over  one  of  our 
1 8  pounders.  We  put  in  it  a  round  mot  and  about 
40  or  50  Ibs.  of  grape,  and  placed  it  in  the  centre  of 
their  boats  as  they  were  rowing  up  in  a  line  and  firing 
on  us.  We  tore  one  of  their  barges  all  in  pieces  ;  fo 
that  two,  one  on  each  fide,  had  to  lafh  her  up,  to  keep 
her  from  finking.  They  retreated  out  of  grape  diftance, 
and  we  turned  our  fire  upon  the  brig,  and  expended 
all  our  cartridges  but  five,  which  we  referved  for  the 
boats,  if  they  made  another  attempt  to  land.  We  then 
lay  four  hours  without  being  able  to  annoy  the  enemy 
in  the  leaft,  except  from  mufkets  on  the  brig,  while 
the  fire  from  the  whole  fleet  was  directed  againft  our 
buildings.  After  the  third  exprefs  to  New  London, 
fome  fixed  ammunition  arrived.  We  then  turned  our 
cannon  on  the  brig,  and  me  foon  cut  her  cable  and 
drifted  out. 

The  whole  fleet  then  weighed,  and  anchored  nearly 


36  The  Defence  of  Stonington. 

out  of  reach  of  our  (hot,  and  continued  this  and  the 
next  day  to  bombard  the  town. 

They  fet  the  buildings  on  fire  in  more  than  twenty 
places,  and  we  as  often  put  them  out.  In  the  three 
days'  bombardment  they  fent  on  more  60  tons  of  metal, 
and,  ftrange  to  fay,  wounded  only  one  rnan,  fince  dead. 
We  have  picked  up  15  tons,  including  fome  that  was 
taken  up  out  of  the  water,  and  the  two  anchors  that 
we  got.(l8)  We  took  up  and  buried  four  poor  fellows 
that  were  hove  overboard  out  of  the  finking  barge. 

Since  peace,  the  officers  of  the  Defpatcb  brig  have 
been  on  more  here  :  they  acknowledge  they  had  21 
killed,  and  50  badly  wounded  ;  and  further  fay,  had 
we  continued  our  fire  any  longer,  they  mould  have 
ftruck,  for  they  were  in  a  finking  condition :  for  the 
wind  then  blew  at  S.  W.  diredly  into  the  harbour. 
Before  the  ammunition  arrived,  it  fhifted  round  to 
north,  and  blew  out  of  the  harbour.  All  the  mot 
fuitable  for  the  cannon  we  have  referved.  We  have 
now  more  18  pound  mot  than  was  fent  us  by  govern- 
ment. We  have  put  the  two  cannon  in  the  arfenal,  and 
houfed  all  the  munitions  of  war." 


The  Defence  of  Stonington.  37 


EXTRACT  FROM  THE  SPEECH  OF  GEN.  ERASTUS  ROOT, 
OF  NEW  YORK, 

In  the  Houfe  of  Reprefentatives,  on  the  Bill  to 
provide  for  the  payment  of  Militia  called  out  by 
State  authority,  and  not  placed  under  the  command 
of  the  United  States. 

[After  animadverting  with  great  feverity  on  the  affair 
at  Pettipaug  point,(f9)  and  the  courfe  purfued  by 
Governor  Smith,  of  Connecticut,  for  the  defence  ot 
New  London] — 

<c  There  was  one  achievement,  faid  Mr.  R.j  which 
brightened  the  annals  of  Connecticut  and  med  luftre 
on  the  American  character.  He  alluded  to  the  Defence 
of  Stonington.  A  more  brilliant  affair,  faid  he,  had  not 
taken  place  during  the  late  war.  It  was  not  rivalled  by 
the  defence  of  Sandufky,  the  glorious  triumph  on  the 
Niagara,  nor  the  naval  victories  on  Erie  and  Champ- 
lain.  And  yet  that  heroic  exploit  is  claimed  in  favor 
of  Governor  Smith's  militia,  and  is  to  gild  the  pill 
which  we  are  called  upon  to  fwallow.  The  detached 
militia,  faid  Mr.  R.,  had  nothing  to  do  in  that  affair. 
It  was  achieved  by  fourteen  democrats,  volunteer  demo- 
crats, who  were  determined  to  defend  the  town  or  perifh 
in  its  ruins.  Commodore  Hardy,  fearful  that  that 
democratic  town  would  fend  torpedoes  among  his 
fquadron,  demanded  a  pledge  that  no  harm  fhould  be 
done  to  his  mips.  No  pledge  being  given,  and  after 


38  The  Defence  of  Stonington. 

advifing  the  removal  of  women  and  children  from 
the  town,  the  enemy  made  a  vigorous  attack,  firft  in 
barges,  and  afterwards  in  a  brig  of  war.  This  heroic 
little  band,  with  a  fingle  gun  mounted  on  a  fmall  bat- 
tery, drove  off  the  brig  as  they  had  before  driven  off 
the  barges.  They  fent  havoc  and  death  among  the 
enemy, — faved  the  town, — and  crowned  themfelves 
with  never  fading  laurels." — The  (Hartford)  Times, 
March  18,  1817. 


THE  BATTLE  OF  STONINGTON,    ON  THE  SEABOARD  OF 
CONNECTICUT. 

BY  PHILIP  FRENEAU. 

In  an  attack  upon  the  town  and  ajmall  fort  of  two  guns, 
hy  the  RAMiLLiEs,feventy-four  gun  Jhip,  commanded  by  Sir 
Thomas  Hardy  ;  the  PACTOLUS,  38  gun  fliip  ;  DESPATCH 
brig,  and  a  razee,  or  bomb  Jhip, — Auguft,  1814. 

Four  gallant  mips  from  England  came 
Freighted  deep  with  fire  and  flame, 
And  other  things  we  need  not  name, 

To  have  a  dam  at  Stonington. 

Now  fafely  moor'd,  their  work  begun, 
They  thought  to  make  the  Yankees  run, 
And  have  a  mighty  deal  of  fun 

In  ftealing  fheep  at  Stonington. 


The  Defence  of  Stonington.  39 

A  deacon  then  popp'd  up  his  head, 
And  Parfon  Jones's  fermon  read, 
In  which  the  reverend  doctor  faid 

That  they  muft  fight  for  Stonington. 

A  townfman  bade  them,  next,  attend 
To  fundry  refolutions  penn'd, 
By  which  they  promifed  to  defend 

With  fword  and  gun  old  Stonington. 

The  fhips  advancing  different  ways, 
The  Britons  foon  began  to  blaze, 
And  put  th'  old  women  in  amaze, 

Who  feared  the  lofs  of  Stonington. 

The  Yankees  to  their  fort  repaired, 
And  made  as  though  they  little  cared 
For  all  that  came— though  very  hard 

The  cannon  play'd  on  Stonington. 

The  Ramillies  began  the  attack, 

Defpatcb  came  forward — bold  and  black — 

And  none  can  tell  what  kept  them  back 

From  fetting  fire  to  Stonington. 

The  bombardiers  with  bomb  and  ball 
Soon  made  a  farmer's  barrack  fall, 
And  did  a  cow-houfe  fadly  maul 

That  ftood  a  mile  from  Stonington. 


40  "The  Defence  of  Stonington. 

They  kill'd  a  goofe,  they  kill'd  a  hen, 
Three  hogs  they  wounded  in  a  pen — 
They  dafh'd  away, — and  pray  what  then  ? 
This  was  not  taking  Stonington. 

The  fhells  were  thrown,  the  rockets  flew, 
But  not  a  (hell,  of  all  they  threw, 
Though  every  houfe  was  full  in  view, 

Could  burn  a  houfe  at  Stonington. 

To  have  their  turn,  they  thought  but  fair  ;— 
The  Yankees  brought  two  guns  to  bear, 
And,  fir,  it  would  have  made  you  flare, 

This  fmoke  of  fmokes  at  Stonington. 

They  bor'd  Pattolus  through  and  through. 
And  killed  and  wounded  of  her  crew 
So  many,  that  me  bade  adieu 

T'  the  gallant  boys  of  Stonington, 

The  brig  Defpatcb  was  hull'd  and  torn— 
So  crippled,  riddled,  fo  forlorn — 
No  more  me  caft  an  eye  of  fcorn 

On  the  little  fort  at  Stonington, 

The  Ramillies  gave  up  th'  affray, 
And,  with  her  comrades  fneaked  away. 
Such  was  the  valor  on  that  day, 

Of  Britifh  tars,  near  Stonington, 


The  Defence  of  Stonington.  41 

But  fome  affert,  on  certain  grounds, 
(Befides  the  damage  and  the  wounds,) 
It  coft  the  King  ten  thoufand  pounds 

To  have  a  dafh  at  Stonington. 

[Few  of  Frenau's  earlier  and  better  poems  were  fo 
popular  as  this  of  "  The  Battle  of  Stonington,"  in  its 
day.  All  Connecticut  boys  knew  it  by  heart,  and  it 
had  an  eftablifhed  place  among  the  c  declamations'  of 
fchool  exhibitions.  Until  within  a  few  years  it  was  to 
be  found  in  the  aflbrtment  of  every  ftreet  vender  of 
ballads  and  patriotic  poems, — fometimes  in  its  original 
form,  but  more  often,  with  c  emendations  and  cor- 
rections.' In  the  broad-fide  from  which -I  firft  learned 
it  (bought  at  a  ftall  in  the  neighborhood  of  Fulton 
market,  fome  thirty  years  ago,)  for  the  twelfth  and 
thirteenth  verfes  was  fubftituted  this  : — 

c<  They  bored  the  Defpatcb  through  and  through, 
And  kill'd  and  wounded  half  her  crew ; 
'Till  crippled,  riddled,  me  withdrew, — 

And  curf'd  the  boys  of  Stonington."] 


42  The  Defence  of  Stonington. 

CELEBRATIONS  OF  THE  ANNIVERSARY 
OF  THE  ATTACK, 

1815, 

Thurfday,  Aug.  loth,  the  firft  anniverfary  of  the 
battle,  was  obferved  as  a  day  of  thankfgiving  and 
prayer.  The  old  flag  was  again  hoifted  on  the  flag- 
ftaff  at  the  battery  :  and  a  proceflion,  formed  at  that 
place,  marched  to  the  Congregational  meeting-houfe, 
to  liften  to  a  difcourfe  by  the  paftor,  Rev.  Ira  Hart. 
On  its  conclufion,  the  proceflion  returned  to  the  bat- 
tery, where  the  exercifes  of  the  day  were  clofed  by 
prayer.  "  On  Friday  evening  a  grand  anniverfary  ball 
was  given  ;  the  aflembly  being  both  numerous  and 
brilliant."- — Conn.  Gazette^  Aug.  23^. 

1818. 

Celebration  at  the  Borough,  on  Monday,  Aug.  loth. 
"  The  company  was  very  numerous,  and  the  bufinefs 
of  the  day  went  off  with  great  eclat." — Id.  Aug.  iitb, 
1818. 

1824. 

An  Oration  was  delivered  at  the  Congregational 
meeting-houfe,  by  Rev.  David  Auftin,  "  characterifttic 
of  his  talents,  patriotifm,  and  eloquence."  The  con- 
courfe  of  citizens  from  Stonington  and  the  neighboring 
towns  was  unufually  large  and  refpe&able.  An  excel- 
lent dinner  was  provided  by  Major  Babcock,  at  the 
Borough  Hotel,  to  which  a  large  number  of  citizens 


The  Defence  of  Stoning  ton.  43 

and  invited  guefls  did  ample  juftice.  The  following 
were  among  the  volunteer  toafts  : 

By  Capt.  Edmund  Fanning.  The  Graf/hopper  Fort* 
— may  it  never  be  forgotten  by  thofe  whom  it  defended. 

By  Samuel  Copp,  Efq.  American  Eight e en-pounders — 
as  handled  in  the  Graffhopper  Fort. 

By  Gen.  J.  Imam.  Auguft  lotb,  1814 — May  no  vile 
calumniator  hereafter  attempt  to  tarnifh  the  hard  earned 
fame  of  the  heroes  of  that  day. 

By  Gurdon  Trumbull,  Efq.  John  £>uincy  Adams 
and  Andrew  Jackfon — Their  elevation  to  the  firfl  offices 
of  our  government,  will  demonftrate  that  fovereignty 
is  yet  with  the  people^  and  guarantee  the  defence  of  our 
national  rights,  whether  aflailed  by  the  pen  or  thefword. 

By  Dr.  Swift.  Capt.  Amos  Palmer — His  memory  ; 
his  energy  and  perfeverance. 

By  W.  Storer  Jun.  Gen.  La  Fayette^ — Whom  God 
doth  blefs,  we  will  honor. 

By  JefTe  Dean  Efq.  Major  Simeon  Smith — Who 
made  cartridges  of  his  ftockings,  for  our  defence,  on 
the  day  we  celebrate. — New  London  Gazette,  Aug.  i%tb. 

1826. 

The  inftallation  of  Benevolent  Chapter  of  Royal 
Arch  Mafons  took  place  at  Stonington,  on  the  anni- 
verfary  of  the  attack.  The  revenue  cutters  Eagle,  from 

*  "  Alluding  to  a  term  ufed  by  the  Rev.  Orator  of  the  day." 

f  Gen.  La  Fayette's  arrival  at  New  York  was  daily  expefted.  He 
landed  at  Cattle  Garden,  Aug.  i6th. 


44  The  Defence  of  Stonlngton. 

New  Haven,  the  Newport  cutter,  and  the  fteamboat 
Long-branch  (Capt.  Mather),  from  New  London, 
brought  numerous  mafonic  and  other  guefts, — military 
companies, — and  a  band  of  mufic.  A  proceflion  of  fome 
three  hundred  brethren  and  companions  was  formed, 
by  order  of  Doct.  Thomas  Hubbard,  M.  E.  G.  H.  P., 
under  the  direction  of  Companions  Gen.  W.  Williams, 
Samuel  F.  Denifon,  and  others,  as  marmals.  The  pro- 
ceflion marched  to  the  fite  of  the  battery,  where  a  fpa- 
cious  tent  had  been  erected,  with  feats  for  2500  per- 
fons, — and  liftened  to  a  prayer  from  the  Gr.  Chaplain, 
Rev.  Seth  B.  Paddock,  and  an  Oration  by  Afa  Child, 
Efq. ;  after  which  the  new  chapter  was  dedicated  in  am- 
ple form,  and  the  feveral  officers  duly  inflalled.  A 
grand  dinner  clofed  the  exercifes  of  the  day. — N.  L. 
Gazette,  Aug.  i6tb. 

1827. 

A  grand  celebration,  on  the  battle  ground,  where  a 
a  large  tent  had  been  erected.  Among  the  guefts  were 
his  Excellency  Governor  Tomlinfon  and  his  ftaff.  The 
proceflion  formed  early  in  the  morning,  and  marched 
through  the  principal  ftreets,  efcorted  by  the  Stoning- 
ton  artillery  and  Norwich  rifle  companies,  to  the  tent, 
— where  an  addrefs  was  delivered  by  Gurdon  Trumbull, 
Efq. :  after  which,  the  proceflion  re-formed,  and  pro- 
ceeded to  the  dinner  table  (fpread  in  Mr.  Faxon's  rope 
walk,  under  the  fupervifion  of  Major  Paul  Babcock). 
Samuel  F.  Denifon,  Efq.,  prefided  at  the  table,  aflifted 


The  Defence  of  Stonington.  45 

by  Major  General  Wm.  Williams,  George  Hubbard 
and  B.  F.  Babcock,  Efquires.  A  long  account  of  the 
celebration,  with  the  toafts  drank  at  the  dinner,  &c. 
— is  given  in  the  New  London  Gazette,  of  Auguft  I5th. 


NOTES, 


NOTE  i,  page  9. 

TONINGTON  BOROUGH,  incorporated  by  the  Leglflature 
[of  Connecticut,]  in  1801,  is  fituated  on  a  narrow  point  of 
land  about  half  a  mile  in  length,  at  the  eaftern  extremity  of 
Long  Ifland  found.  On  its  eaftern  fide  lies  Paucatuck  bay,  and  on  its 
weft  the  harbour,  terminating  in  Lambert's  Cove.  It  has  four  [two] 
principal  ftreets  running  north  and  fouth,  interfered  at  right  angles  by  nine 
crofs  ftreets,  and  contains  about  one  hundred  and  twenty  dwelling  houfes  and 
ftores.  It  has  alfo  two  houfes  for  public  worfhip,  an  academy,  where  the 
languages  are  taught,  and  two  common  fchools ;  two  rope-walks,  commo- 
dious wharves,  and  ware  houfes  for  ftorage.  ...  In  the  cenfus  of  1810, 
the  town  contained  3043  inhabitants,  and  there  are  now  [1819],  335 
qualified  electors.— Peafe  &  Ni/es's  Gazetteer  of  Connecticut. 


NOTE  2,  page  9. 

SIR  THOMAS  MASTERMAN  HARDY,  Bart. — afterwards  Vice- Admiral,  and 
G.  C.  B., — was  at  this  time  not  far  from  thirty-five  years  of  age. 
He  entered  the  British  navy,  as  a  midfhipman,  at  twelve  ;  and  was 
promoted  to  the  rank  of  commander  in  1797,  for  diftinguifhed  gal- 
lantry in  the  capture  of  a  French  brig,  under  the  walls  of  Vera  Cruz. 
He  commanded  the  Mutine  brig,  in  the  battle  of  the  Nile, —  became  the 
favorite  of  Nelfon,  and  was  appointed  to  the  command  of  his  flag-fhip, 
ferving  with  him,  fucceflively,  in  the  Vanguard^  the  Namur,  the  St. 
George,  (at  the  battle  of  Copenhagen),  the  Iris  and  dmphitrion,  and  the 


48  The  Defence  of  Stonington. 

Viftory,  on  board  which  Nelfon  conquered  and  fell  at  Trafalgar.  Capt. 
Hardy  was  created  a  baronet,  in  February,  1806  ;  from  which  period, 
until  1824,  he  was  almoft  conftantly  on  aftive  duty  in  the  Weft  Indies 
and  on  American  ftations.  He  was  made  a  knight  commander  of  the 
Bath,  Jan.  1815,  and  knight  grand  cross,  in  1831.  In  Odober,  1827, 
he  retired  from  the  fervice  j  was  appointed  a  lord  of  the  admiralty  in 
1830;  and  governor  of  Greenwich  Hofpital,  in  1834,  retaining  that 
office  until  his  death,  Sept.  2Oth,  1839. — Annual  Regifter,  vol.  LXXXI, 
P»  363-  Difpatcbes  £ff  Letters  of  Nelfon. 

[Col.  Green  gave  ihcjubjtaxce  of  this  note,  from  memory.  A  correct 
copy  of  it  was  publifhed  with  the  official  account,  in  the  Gazette  of  Sept. 
jth.  Commodore  Hardy  wrote  from  on  board  the  Paftolus, — his  own 
fhip,  the  Ramifies,  then  lying  at  anchor  off  the  weft  end  of  Fifher's  Ifland.] 


NOTE  3,  page  10. 

CAPT.  Amos  Palmer,  and  Dr.  Wm.  Lord.  The  former  was  the 
fenior  warden  of  the  Borough,  and  chairman  of  the  committee  of 
citizens  who  had  been  entrufted,  fome  month?  previoufly,  with  the 
preparations  for  defence.  "  He  was  diftinguilhed  for  his  integrity, 
his  republican  principles,  and  his  patriotifm." — Peafe  fcf  Niles's  Ga~ 
zetteer,  1819.  Capt.  Palmer's  own  account  of  the  attack  (in  a  letter  to 
the  Secretary  of  War,)  will  be  found  on  pages  33-^36.  He  died  at 
Stonington,  March  i,  1816,  aet.  69. 


NOTE  4,  page  i  o 

BRiGADiER-General  Thomas  H.   Cufhing,  who  commanded   at  New 
London.     After  the    ratification  of  peace,    in   1815,  General  Cufhing 
received. the  appointment  of  collector  of  the  port  of  New  London,  and 
retained  the  office  till  his  death,   Oct.    I9th,   1822,  ?et.  6j.-*-Hift.  of 
New  London,  p.  649. 


The  Defence  of  Stonington.  49 

NOTE  5,  page  12. 

AN  account  of  the  "  Bombardment  of  Stonington"  [by  the  Rev, 
Frederick  Denifon]  printed  in  the  Myftic  Pioneer  of  July  2d,  1859, 
contains  many  interefting  particulars,  "  gathered  from  the  lips  of  pro- 
minent a&ors  in  the  battle."  This  account  fays,  "  The  firft  men, 
fo  far  as  remembered,  that  took  ftations  in  the  battery,  were  four,  William 
Lord,  Afa  Lee,  George  Fellows,  and  Amos  Denifon.  Juft  before  fix  o'clock, 
fix  volunteers  from  Myftic,  Jeremiah  Holmes,  Jeremiah  Haley,  Ebenezer 
Denifon,  Ifaac  Denifon,  and  Nathaniel  Clift,  reached  the  place,  on  foot, 
and  ran  immediately  to  help  to  operate  the  gun  in  the  battery." 

.  .  .  .  "  The  battery  being  fmall,  but  few  men  could  work  in  it,  and 
at  this  time  [later  in  the  morning  of  the  loth,]  it  was  operated,  as  nearly 
as  remembered,  by  Jeremiah  Holmes,  Simeon  Haley,  Jeremiah  Haley, 
Ifaac  Denifon,  Ifaac  Miner,  George  Fellows,  and  Afa  Lee."  This  lift  is 
not  complete,  but  is  doubtlefs  con-eft  fo  far  as  it  relates  to  the  Myftic  vo- 
lunteers. 


NOTE  6,  page  12. 

THE  wound  proved  mortal.  Mr.  Denifon  died  November  ift,  1814. 
He  was  the  fourth  fon  of  Ifaac  and  Eunice  [Williams]  Denifon,  of 
Myftic,  born  Dec.  27th,  1795.  On  tne  morning  of  me  attack, 
Frederick, — a  youth  not  yet  nineteen  years  old, — haftened,  on  foot, 
to  the  Borough,  to  join  the  little  band  of  volunteers,  with  whom  were 
already  his  two  elder  brothers,  Ebenezer  and  Ifaac,  and  his  brothers-in- 
law,  Capt.  Jer.  Holmes  and  Capt.  Nath.  Clift.  He  went  immediately 
to  the  battery,  where  he  helped  to  work  the  guns,  and  during  the  heat  of 
the  action,  when  the  match-rope  proved  unferviceable,  volunteered  to  go 
out  to  procure  a  new  fupply.  While  on  this  dangerous  errand,  he  was 
ftruck  by  a  mot  from  the  brig,  or,  as  other  accounts  fay,  by  a  fragment 
fcaled  from  a  rock  by  a  pafling  ball.  The  wound  was  not  coflfidered 
dangerous,  and  if  furgical  aid  could  have  been  promptly  obtained,  Mr. 
Denifon's  life  might  have  been  fpared. 

In  May,  1856,  the  Legiflature  of  Connecticut  made  an  appropriation 

7 


50  The  Defence  of  Stonington. 

fora  fuitable  monument  to  his  memory,  which  was  eredled  in  Elm  Grove 
Cemetery,  at  My  flic. — F.  D.  [Rev.  Fred.  Denifon,]  in  Myjlic  Pioneer, 
Aug.  zyth,  1859. 


NOTE  7,  page  1 3. 

THE  colors  on  the  flag  ftaff  were  mot  through  nine  times.  A  fence 
near  by  was  pierced  by  Jtxty-tbree  balls." — Myjlic  Pioneer.  The  flag 
has  been  carefully  preferved,  and  was  in  the  keeping  of  Francis  Amy, 
Efq., — orderly  fergeant  of  Capt.  Potter's  Company,  at  the  time  of  the  at- 
tack,— until  his  death  in  1863.  Its  future  prefervation  mould  be  infured 
by  depofiting  it  with  the  Connecticut  Hiftory  Society. 


NOTE  8,  page  13, 

JIRAH  ISHAM,  Efq.,  commanding  the   3d    Brigade    of  the  State  Mi- 
litia,— in  the   3d  Divifion,  (William  Williams,  Efq.,  Major  General.) 


NOTE  9,  page  15. 

ON  Sunday  [Aug.  7]  a  flag  came  up  [to  New  London]  from  the 
frigate  Forth,  Com.  Hotham.  The  object  was  to  obtain  permiflion  for 
James  Stewart,  Efq.,  formerly  conful  here,  to  take  off  his  family. 
Mr.  Stewart  was  on  board.  General  Cufliing,  we  underftand,  replied 
that  the  requeft  would  be  forwarded  to  Wafhington." — Conn.  Gazette, 
Aug.  loth. 


NOTE  10,  page  17. 

MR.  GURDON  TRUMBULL  was  the  bearer  of  this  flag,  and  was  accom- 
panied by  Dr.  Wm.  Lord.  The  boat  was  rowed  to  the  Rainillies  by 
Noyes  Brown  and  Jabez  Holmes.  Gen.  Ifham's  explanation  of  the 
firing  on  Lieut.  Claxton,  under  a  flag  of  truce,  had  not  been  received 
by  Com.  Hardy  when  the  boat  with  this  letter  from  the  civil  authority 


The  Defence  of  Stonington.  51 

came  along  fide.  The  bearer  of  the  letter  was  met,  at  the  head  of  the 
gang-ladder  by  a  lieutenant,  and  informed  that  the  Commodore  was 
much  incenfed  at  the  infult  offered  to  the  flag,  and  would  not  receive 
any  communication  from  the  more  until  it  mould  be  explained.  Mr. 
Trumbull  replied  that  he  came  as  a  meflenger  from  the  civil  and 
not  the  military  authorities,  and  was  not  inftructed  to  offer  any  explanation  : 
but,  as  an  eye-witnefs  of  the  tranfaclion,  he  would  ftate  the  circumftances, 
as  they  occurred.  The  lieutenant  reported  thefe  to  the  Commodore,  and 
returned  with  a  mefTage  that  the  latter  was  "  perfectly  fatiffied ;"  that  the 
defenders  of  the  place  were  fully  authorized  to  prevent  the  nearer  approach 
of  the  flag-boat ;  and  that  his  officer  [Lieut.  Claxton]  was  in  the  wrong. 
Mr.  Trumbull  was  then  conducted  to  the  cabin,  where  he  found  the  Com- 
modore, in  confultation  with  all  the  other  commanders  of  the  fquadron, 
and  delivered  the  letter  from  the  Borough  authorities. 


NOTE  n,  page  18. 

THIS  is  not  exactly  correct.  He  faid  nothing  of  Mrs.  Stewart ;  but, 
after  reading  the  letter,  remarked,  "  I  learn  from  this,  Sir,  that  I  am 
under  the  neceffity  of  refuming  hoililities, — which  I  fhall  do,  at  one 
o'clock." 

NOTE  12,  page  18. 

LIEUT.  John  Lathrop,  of  the  Norwich  Artillery  or  "  Matrofs  Com- 
pany" (Capt.  Charles  Thomas).  It  will  be  feen,  by  the  narrative  of 
the  magiftrates,  that  Lieut.  Lathrop  was  anticipated  in  the  execution  of 
this  fervice,  by  a  party  of  volunteers. 

NOTE  13,  page  19. 

LIEUT.  Samuel  L.  Hough,  of  Canterbury,  Lieutenant  of  the  L.  In- 
fantry Company  (Capt.  James  Afpinwall),  detached  from  the  zift  re- 


52  The  Defence  of  Stonington. 

giment  of  militia, — in  the  fervice  of  the  U.  States.  Lieut.  Hough's 
wound  was  not  ferious.  He  is  ftill  living  (June,  1 864,) — and  in  receipt 
of  a  penfion  from  the  U.  States. 

NOTE  14,  page  24. 
THIS  account  was  written  by  Alex.  G.  Smith,  Efq. 

NOTE  15,  page  26. 

COL.  Wm.  Randall,  of  Stonington,  commanding  the  3Oth  Regiment  of 

State  Militia. 

NOTE  1 6,  page  3 1 . 

Too  much  praife  can  hardly  be  awarded  to  the  volunteer  firemen, 
who,  during  the  whole  of  the  engagement,  continued  to  patrol  the 
ftreets,  watching  the  fall  of  every  rocket  and  {hell,  and  extinguifhing 
fires  as  foon  as  lighted.  Two  of  this  band  may  be  named  without  injuftice 
to  others,  as  having  rendered  efficient  and  conftant  fervice, — Capt. 
CHARLES  H.  SMITH  and  FRANCIS  AMY,  Efq.,  both  ferjeants  in  Capt. 
Potter's  company.  Capt.  THOMAS  SWAN  was  not  lefs  aclive  or  perfe- 
vering.  He  remained  in  the  Borough,  (except  for  an  hour's  vifit  to  his 
family,  placed  in  fafety  at  a  farm  houfe,  a  mile  diftant,)  from  the  begin- 
ning of  the  attack  till  the  departure  of  the  mips  ;  ferving,  as  neceffity  re- 
quired, with  the  volunteer  firemen,  and  with  the  guard  ftationed  on  the 
eaft  fide  of  the  Point  to  prevent  a  landing  of  the  enemy  from  their  boats. 

NOTE  17,  page  32. 
SEE  Capt.  Palmer's  letter  to  the  Secretary  of  War,  next  following. 

NOTE  1 8,  page  36. 

THE  anchor  left  by  the  Difpatcb  brig,  at  Stonington,  when  me  '  cut 
and  run,'  has  been  got  up  and  brought  to  New  London.  It  weighs  up- 
wards of  20  cwt. — Nilefs  Weekly  Regifter,  Sept.  10,  1814. 


The  Defence  of  Stonington.  53 

"  Mr.  Chalmers,  late  matter  of  the  Terror,  bomb-veffel,  employed  in 
the  attack  on  Stonington,  has  been  captured  in  a  Britiih  barge  and  fent  to 
Providence.  He  fays  170  bombs  were  difcharged  from  that  fhip  in  the 
attack  on  Stonington,  which  were  found  to  weigh  80  Ib.  each  ;  the  charge 
of  powder  for  the  mortar  was  9  Ibs.  ;  adding  to  this  the  wadding,  that 
veflel  muft  have  difgorged  eight  tons  weight." — Ibid. 


"  The  following  appears  in  a  New  York  paper,  in  the  fhape  of  an  ad- 
vertifement : 

Englifh  Manufacture,  and  Memento  of  the  "  Magnanimity"  of 
Commodore  Hardy. 

Juft  received,  and  offered  for  fale,  about 

THREE  TONS  OF  ROUND  SHOT, 

confifting  of  6,  9,  12,  18,  24,  and  32  Ibs.,  very  handfome,  being  zjmali 
proportion  of  thofe  which  were  fired  from  his  Britannic  Majefty's  mips,  on 
the  unoffending  inhabitants  of  Stonington,  in  the  recent  brilliant  attack  on 
that  place. 

LIKEWISE,  a  few  Carcaffes,  in  good  order,  weighing  about  200  Ibs.  each. 
Apply  to  S.  TRUMBULL,  41  Peck-Jlip. 

N.  B.  The  purchafer  of  the  above  can  be  fupplied  with  about  two  tons 
more,  if  required. 

New  York,  November  I9th,  [1814.]" 

Nibs' f  Weekly  Regijler,  Dec.  $d,  1815. 


INDUSTRY. — Many  of  our  readers  will  recoiled!  the  anecdote  of  the 
thrifty  American  who  afked  Commodore  Hardy,  when  he  would  attack 
Stonington  again  ?  fo  that  he  might  have  his  cart  ready  to  carry  off  the 
mot ;  and  alfo  the  accounts  we  have  had  of  the  mighty  mafs  of  metal 
collected  there  and  fold  at  New  York,  &c.  It  feems,  however,  that  the 
iron  mine  is  not  yet  exhaufted,  for  certain  perfons  with  a  diving  machine 


54  *The  Defence  of  Stonington. 

have  raifed  no  lefs  than  1 1,209  Ibs.  of  foot,  which  was  thrown  overboard 
from  the  Paffoltu,  when  (he  was  in  fuch  a  hurry  to  get  away  from  the  two 
guns  of  Stonington  !  They  have  alfo  picked  up  a  quantity  of  copper.— 
Niks' s  Weekly  Regifter,  June  3,  1815. 

NOTE  19,  page  38. 

CAPT.  Coote,  of  H.  B.  M.  brig  Borer,  landed  two  hundred  men  at 
Pettipaug,  (Say brook,)  in  barges  and  launches,  on  the  8th  of  April,  1814, 
and  deftroyed  upwards  of  twenty  fail  of  veflels,  without  meeting  any  op- 
pofition  (until  after  they  had  re-embarked,)  and  without  the  lofs  of  a  man. 
— Conn.  Gazette,  April  13,  1814. 


LETTERS  OF  COMMODORE  HARDY. 


Since  the  foregoing  pages  were  printed,  my  friend  Profeflbr  D.  C. 
Gilman,  has  brought  to  my  notice  the  original  letters  of  Commodore 
Hardy,  to  the  inhabitants  of  Stonington  and  to  General  Imam,  which 
are  now  in  the  Library  of  Yale  College.  The  firlt  (of  Auguft  9th) 
was  copied  with  fufficient  accuracy  in  the  account  publifhed  by  the 
magiftrates,  warden  and  burgefles  (page  25  ),  I  reprint  it  here,  but  with  a  fac. 
fimile  of  the  fignature. 

His  Britannic  Majefty's  Ship, 
PACTOLUS,  qth  Auguft,  1814. 
i  paft  5  o'clock,  P.  M. 

Not  wifhing  to  deftroy  the  unoffending  Inhabitants 
refiding  in  the  Town  of  Stonington,  one  hour  is  granted 
them  from  the  receipt  of  this  to  remove  out  of  the 
town. 


To  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of 
Stonington. 


56  The  Defence  of  Stonington. 

The  fecond,  is  in  reply  to  the  letter  from  the  magiftrates  which  was  fent 
o.n  board  the  Ramhhes,  by  Col.  Isaac  Williams  and  Dr.  William  Lord,  on 
Wednefday,  the  loth.  As  "official  etiquette"  did  net  permit  Col. 
Green  to  obtain  "  an  exacl  copy,"  he  could  only  print  its  subftance 
"  as  far  as  memory  ferved  "  (seepage  14).  The  magiftrates  allude  to 
it,  in  their  publifhed  account  (p.  30),  as  "  the  fingular  communication 
received  from  Commodore  Hardy,  which  preceded  the  fire  on  Thurf- 
day."  It  is  evident  that  the  Britifh  commander  was  ftrangely  in  error  as 
to  the  affurances  and  engagements  which  he  profefled  to  have  received, 
or  that  the  gentlemen  entrufted  with  the  delivery  of  the  letter  from  the 
magiftrates  muft,  in  their  conference  with  the  Commodore,  have  exceeded 
their  inftrudions. 


ieSj  off  Stonington  > 

loth  August,  1814. 
GENTN 

I  have  received  your  letter  and  reprefentation  of 
the  State  of  your  Town,  and  as  you  have  declared  that 
Torpedoes,  never  have  been  harbored  by  the  Inhabit- 
ants or  ever  will  be,  as  far  as  lies  in  their  power  to 
prevent  —  and  as  you  have  engaged  that  Mrs.  Stewart 
the  wife  of  the  Britifh  vice  conful  late  refident  at 
New  London,  with  her  family,  fhall  be  permitted  to 
embark  on  board  this  Ship  to-morrow  morning,  I  am 
induced  to  wave  the  attempt  of  the  total  destruction 
of  your  Town,  which  I  feel  confident  can  be  effected  by 
the  Squadron  under  my  Orders. 
I  am 
Gentn 

Your  moft  obedient  fervant, 

T.    M.    HARDY,    Captain. 
To  Doftor  LAW  \Lord~\  and  Colonel  WILLIAMS, 

Stonington. 


The  Defence  of  Stonington.  57 

In  reprinting  the  refponfe  of  the  civil  authorities  of  Stonington,  to  the 
foregoing  letter,  on  page  1 7,  ante,  an  error  in  the  date  fhould  have  been 
corrected.  It  was  written  and  defpatched  on  the  eleventh  of  Auguft. 

The  following  note  acknowledges  the  explanation  fent  by  General 
Imam,  of  the  circumilances  under  which  a  flag  of  truce  from  the  Ramil- 
lies,  was  fired  upon  by  a  (entinel  at  the  Battery,  on  the  morning  of  the 
i  ith  (fee  pages  16,  17,  and  note  10). 


Ramillies,  off  Stonington^ 
\\tb  Augufty  1814. 
Sir, 

I   have  the  honor    to    acknowledge  the    receipt    of 
your  letter,  apologizing   for  the  Flag  of  Truce  I  fent 
on  more   this  morning,  having   been   fired  at  ;    and    I 
beg  to  afTure  you  that   under  the  Circumftances   you 
have  ftated,  the  apology  is  perfectly  fatisfactory. 
I  have  the  honor  to  be,  Sir, 
Your  moft  obedient 
humble  Servant, 

T.  M.  HARDY,  Captain. 

To  Brigadier  ISHAM  —  Commanding  at  Stonington. 


M18184 


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